Make our planet (gr)eat again – Why implementation of agriculture discussions is critical to climate talks.

13 November 2017

The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) agriculture negotiations have been focussed on the way forward for a long time. Over the years, Parties have compiled their shopping lists and proposed recipes. Last week they came into the kitchen and properly started cooking.

 

ECO was looking forward to tasting G77’s offering, a nutritious (and not particularly exotic) dish called “implementation”. Our stomachs rumbled when G77 put together the ingredients for SBSTA negotiations to deliver meaningful action on the ground, by linking specifically with the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI).

 

ECO thinks that “Implementation” is delicious, nutritious and necessary – especially when food systems are at such risk of climate impacts, and industrialised agriculture is contributing to climate change. But EU, New Zealand and Australia raised all sorts of objections. It seems they just don’t like “Implementation”. Not even with ketchup. So, they won’t let anyone else eat either.

 

ECO hopes that when Parties return to the kitchen today, developed countries will remember that climate action is all about implementation. Perhaps Parties would like to try ECO’s suggested dish of “Joint SBSTA/SBI Work Programme”. At any rate, we encourage them to stay in the SBSTA-Agriculture kitchen. Bonn appétit, everyone!